Apparatus for ignition in explosive-engines.



J. H. STRINGHAM.

APPARATUS FOR IGNITION IN EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, I914. v I

Patented Oct. 16,1917.-

7 Nb 3 w JqPmH. 2 mm W i ArrAnA'rusFon IGNITION m nXrLosIvE-Eivemiis.

To all whom it may concern: Be itknown thatl, Jonn a citizen of the. United States, residing in Jersey City,in the county of Hudson and State of New ilersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Ignition inExplosive-Engines, of which the following isa specification. H j

This inventionrelates to apparatus for ignition in explosive engines and has for its object the provision for self-timing ign tion, ofsuch efficiency as to producegreatly improved combustion, embodied in. a selfcontained apparatus requiring no additional mechanical. attachment or disarrangernent of the engine and adapted. to inexpensive manufacture. 4 i a Figure 1 is a planview of my device. Fig.2 is an. elevation in perspective.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line.

3-3 of Fig. 1. I 1 j i In the accompanying drawing, a preferred form of apparatus is illustrated. 1 represents 'the cylinder head to which (as, for example, through the valve chamber) is screwed or otherwise fitted the piece 2. T he pieces 3 and 4: are held together and to the piece 2 by screws 5. This construction is particularly valuable because it enables all parts to be made by direct work in the easiest and, cheapest fashion and permits of easy assemblage and access to any of the parts which may require attention. The invention may, of course, be embodied in apparatus not possessing this feature of 0011- struction and otherwise different in form from the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Opening into the cylinder is a valve 6 adapted to be opened by the compression in the cylinder, provided with means, as a spring 7, to keep it closed, except when the pressure against it is suliicient to open it. The means for holding the valve 6 closed are preferably adjustable, as, for example, in the drawings the tension of the spring 7 may be adjusted by the screw 8. The purpose of providing this adjustment of the closing means is in order that the valve may be opened only when the pressure of the compression against it is near its highest point. In the preferred form the valve is a double acting valve, seating itself at its top as well as its bottom, so as to prevent the escape of gas except into the pass 9. Connected with the pass 9 is a chamber 10, which is preferably lined with,

Specification of Letters Patent.

H. STRINGHAM,

Patented @ct. i6, 191?.

v i Application filedjiune 26,1914. Seria1 No. 847,395..

and contains, heat resisting material. Said chamber is provided with a second valve 11, preferably constructed like the valve 6, and provided with means for holding it spring 12, which, like the spring 7, is prefll Twin were rie.

JOHN H. s'rninena'n, or Jnnsnv CITY, new annsnx.

6O closed, as, for example, the tension of the.

erably adjustable. The tension of the spring 12 is .made higher than that of the spring 7 and preferably just below the greatest force of the explosion in order to prevent loss of power. The valve 11 is preferably provided with a hole or passage 13, making a small slide valve, which opens when the pressure on the valve llis light (as when the engine is vrunning free) and is automatically closed bythe force of a heavier explosion.

The operation is asfollowsz The compression of the cylinder opens the valve 6, but is insufficient to open the valve 11. The

explosion (first ignited by other means, as

a spark plug) opens the valve 11 and some,

of the gases escape to the exhaust. NVhen the explosion pressure is slightly reduced the valve 11 closes, trapping some of the products of combustion in the chamber 10,

which remain in that chamber after theclosing of the valve 6 before or upon the opening of the exhaust of the engine. When the compression in the cylinder becomes sufficient again to open the valve 6,

,the gases trapped in chamber 10 ignite the compressed charge and the operation is repeated.

By the arrangement shown the timing of the ignition is automatic after the springs have been once set for any particular engine, because when the load on the engine is heavier more gas is sucked into the cylinder, so that the pressure opening of the valve 6 comes sooner and the effect is accordingly equivalent to advancing the spark.

It is apparent that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

1. An ignition device for explosive en gines comprising a cylinder, a chamber communicating with the cylinder and atmosphere, respectively, by passages, a valve con trolling the passage to the cylinder adapted to be opened by the force of the compression, and a valve controlling the passage to the atmosphere adapted to be opened by the force of the explosion.

2. An ignition device for explosive on gines comprising a trap for the products of combustion opened to the explosion chamber by means of a'valve actuated by the compression pressure therein. 7

3. An ignition device for explosive engines comprising a chamber having a connection with the cylinder of the engine controlled by a valve actuated by the pressure therein, and another connection with the 10 atmosphere controlled by a valve actuated by a higher pressure. I

4. An ignitlon device for explosiveen gines comprising a chamber adapted to hold,

products of combustion communicating with the cylinder-,a valve between said chamber and the cylinder of the engine, actuated by the compression pressure in the cylinder, and adjustable means for holding said valve closed until a certain degree of pressure in the cylinder is reached.

5. An ignition device for explosive engines comprising a chamber, an automatic valve between said chamber and the cylinseat itself at its top while open at its bottom.

7. In an ignition device for explosive engines having a chamber adapted to hold products of combustion, a connection beseat j for tween said chamber and the atmosphere, a valve controlling said connection adapted to be raised by pressure in said chamber, and having a passage which is closed when the valve is in lowered position and closed when the valveis in raised position but open when the valve is in intermediate position.

I 8. An ignition device comprising a double acting compression valve and double acting explosion valve, a bottom piece containing a chamber, a bottom'seat for the ompression valve and a passage to said chamber therefrom; a middle piece containing a bottom seat for the explosion valve and the topthe compression valve; 'a top piece containing the top seat for the explosion valve and means for holding said valves normally closed; and bolts holding said pieces assembled. 9. In an explosive engine, a cylinder,

means for compressing anexplosive mixture in said cylinder prior to each explosion, and igniting means controlled by a valve actuated by the pressure of said explosive mixture in said cylinder.

10. An ignition device for explosive engines comprising a chamberadapteid to hold heated gases under high pressure, separated from the cylinder of the engine by a valve adapted to be opened by the pressure of the gases to be ignited; V

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature in the presence of wit nesses.

JOHN H. STRINGHAM. WVitnesses:

DWIGHT L. ELMENDORF, HERMAN Gus'row.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the'(ommissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C. 

